F1 2013 Launch Date Announced - News

Codemasters has announced F1 2013 will be launching on October 4 in the UK and Australia, and October 8 in the US. The title will be released on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC.

Two versions of the game will be available at retailers: standard edition and classic edition. The standard version features updated teams, drivers and circuits from the 2013 Formula One season, along with tyre and rule changes. Among the major team drivers updates are Lewis Hamilton racing for Mercedes, Sergio Perez racing for Mclaren-Mercedes and Nico Hulkenberg racing for Sauber-Ferrari. Other updates to game include improved race car handling, improved AI and enhancements to the split-screen and online multiplayer modes.

In addition to the 2013 updates, the standard version will also feature some classic 1980s content. This includes 10 iconic F1 drivers, with names like Mario Andretti and Nigel Mansell, five legendary race cars, such as Williams and Ferrari, and several circuits like Brands Hatch and Circuito De Jerez. Legendary F1 broadcaster Murray Walker will be providing introduction commentary for the classic content.

The other version of the game, dubbed "F1 2013: Classic Edition," will feature two 1990s content packs, in addition to all the aforementioned content and game updates. One of these packs will comprise seven iconic drivers, such as David Coulthard and Jacques Villaneuve, and six legendary race cars, Williams and Ferrari being two of them. The other pack features classic circuits like Imola and Estori.

Both of the 1990s content packs will be made available as DLC for the standard edition shortly following its launch.

Codemasters entered into an exclusive game-licensing agreement with Formula One in 2008. As a result of the great success of the games, with multi-million copies sold worldwide, Codemasters and F1 came to an agreement in 2012 to extend their partnership with a new multi-year deal. In addition to the annual core F1 game release, which began with F1 2009, Codemasters also released a family-friendly racing kart title in 2012 called F1 Race Stars.